Dr Tamer Al Najjar Trujillo

Dr Tamer Al Najjar Trujillo

Visiting Fellow

Department of Media and Communications

Connect with me

Languages
Catalan, English, Spanish
Key Expertise
alternative media; journalism of social change

About me

Post-doctoral researcher at the Inter-University Institute for Social Development and Peace at Jaume I University (Spain). He has won a competitive contract of Generalitat Valenciana for a research stay at the London School of Economics (UK), under the supervision of Professor Lilie Chouliariaki. He has been a pre-doctoral researcher with a competitive contract from the Spanish Ministry of Universities (FPU) at the Department of Communication Sciences and the Inter-University Institute for Social Development and Peace at Jaume I University (2018-2023). He graduated in Journalism (Carlos III University) and holds a Master’s degree in International Peace, Conflict and Development Studies. He defended his doctoral thesis Transformative communicative frames and Islam: an exploration of post-15M Spanish press (2012-2017) on Barcelona and Cambrils attacks (17A) with Cum Laude grade and International Mention (3 months fellowship at Munich University). This thesis was associated with the international project entitled “Converging Horizons: Production, Mediation, Reception and Effects of Representations of Marginality” funded by CONICYT (La Frontera University, Chile, Dr. Carlos del Valle). His doctoral thesis signifies a substantial advancement in his field of expertise, establishing communicative criteria and organizational frameworks for transformative journalism, wherein communication serves as a catalyst for citizen empowerment. His extensive analysis of public discourse has contributed to construct diverse communicative frames for the examination of narratives surrounding Islam, proving invaluable to the academic community. The results of his doctoral research have been disclosed in two high-impact publications: a book published by Tirant lo Blanch (Q1 SPI) and an academic paper in Index.Comunicación journal (Q1 SJR). He has published his own book: Periodismo y narrativas transformadoras. El islam en el contexto mediático español, by Tirant lo Blanch. 

His research career focuses on the analysis of public discourses concerning vulnerable groups, the formulation of indicators to produce and assess narratives on ecosocial transition and the third sector. He has garnered recognition through publications in national and international open-access impact journals such as Anàlisi, Psicoperspectivas, Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico, Historia y Comunicación Social or Index.Comunicación. Additionally, he has played a key role in co-editing books, with Communication, Peace, and Conflict (Dykinson) being particularly noteworthy. He has contributed as the author of the Bibliography section for Tiempo de Paz Spanish journal. His international influence extends to publications including “Communication for Peaceful Social Change and Global Citizenry” (as part of the book series Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Springer) and Communication (as part of Encyclopedia of Social Justice in Education, Bloomsbury). A standout accomplishment is his three-month research stay at University of Munich (16th in Communication, according to Shanghai Ranking) under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch (H-index 30). During this period, he actively participated in the international project “Worlds of Journalism”, focusing on the analysis of journalistic cultures. As a researcher, he has significantly contributed to two pivotal projects: UJI-B2019-13 "Communication for social change and media education against hate speech on gender and immigration: analysis of public discourses in the period 2016-2019," and UJI-B2022-10 "From the infrahumanisation of hate speech to digital and emotional competencies: strategies for cultural efficacy and against emotional injustice”. Moreover, he has played a vital role as a member of the scientific committee in national conferences.

Regarding his teaching activity, he has been part of the Educational Innovation Group in information and media literacy for social change (UJI). He has participated in three educational innovation projects and in 2021 received the UJI Educational Innovation Award. He has taught in higher education subjects such as Foundations of Communication Theory, Cooperation for Development, Communication for Equality and Communication for Peace (Master in Peace Studies) with outstanding category in his teaching evaluation. He has been a guest speaker at the University of La Laguna for training activities.

As a part of his incessant work regarding knowledge dissemination, during 2021 he participated in "Nadie Dijo Fácil 2" [“Nobody Said Easy 2”] transfer contract for the NGO Ongawa, in which organizational and communication criteria for third sector entities were discussed. As a result, the book Nobody said it was easy. Theoretical bases and criteria to guide us towards social transformation (2023) was published, which has become a reference in this field. Another significant outcome is the development of a self-assessment tool for social entities https://ongawa.org/nadiejadofacil/autoevaluacion/ . He has experience as an instructor for social agents on narratives for social change (Medicus Mundi, Valencian Coordinator of NGO). He has been part of the speakers of the project “New challenges of Valencian health cooperation”, for the creation of the “Guide to Good Practices of Valencian health cooperation”. He has recently participated as a jury in Anna Escrihuela Awards regarding communication on cooperation.

Expertise Details

alternative media; journalism of social change; discourse analysis; humanitarian communication

Publications

  • Al Najjar Trujillo, T. (2024). Journalism and transformative narratives: Islam in the Spanish media context. Tirant lo Blanch. 

  • Al Najjar Trujillo, T. (2024). Dimensions and criteria of transformative journalism: a media reform proposal. Index Comunicación. 14(1), 155-180. https://doi.org/10.62008/ixc/14/01Dimens

  • Arévalo Salinas, A. I. y Al Najjar Trujillo, T.  (2021). Portrayals of immigration in the Spanish media and their visibility as news sources. Historia y Comunicación Social, 26(1), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.5209/hics.66548

  • Arévalo Salinas, A. I., T Al Najjar Trujillo, T.  y Aidar Abib, T. (2021). News coverage of immigration on Televisión Española. Aquarius ship case. Estudios sobre el mensaje periodístico, 27(1), 13-25.  https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.73744

  • Arévalo Salinas, A. I., T Al Najjar Trujillo, T.  y  Vilar Sastre, G. (2020). Alternative media and solidarity economy in Spain. Psicoperspectivas. Individuo y Sociedad, 19(2), 81-93. https://dx.doi.org/10.5027/psicoperspectivas-Vol19-Issue2-fulltext-1939

  • Al Najjar Trujillo, T.  y   Arévalo Salinas, A. I. (2019). Press coverage of the Barcelona and Cambrils attacks in Eldiario.es: Analysis of informative treatment of Islam. Anàlisi: Quaderns de comunicació i cultura, 60, 81-96. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/analisi.3196

  • Nos Aldás, E. y  Al Najjar Trujillo, T.   (2025). Communication (in press). In Encyclopedia of Social Justice in Education. Bloomsbury Publishing.

  • Nos Aldás, E., Farné, A. y Al Najjar Trujillo, T.  (2021). Communication for Peaceful Social Change and Global Citizenry. In Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development GoalsPeace, Justice and Strong Institutionshttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95960-3_131